User's Manual

Free up disk space
34
Types of unnecessary files
Type Description
Backups
Many applications automatically create backups of the files they use. These can be deleted if you do
not need them.
Google Earth
cache files
Google Earth uses this cache to save image data.
Internet Explorer
cache
All pictures, text and animations that you view in Internet Explorer while surfing the Internet are
saved in the cache. If you visit a website again, the text and images can be loaded from the cache
more quickly than from the Internet. However, it is advisable to empty your cache from time to time.
Log files
Many applications write log files that can be used to analyze their behavior. This can be helpful, for
example, when trying to solve problems. Any log files that you do not plan on evaluating can be
deleted.
Memory dump
files
When problems with an application occur, Windows saves the portion of your system memory used
by the application in question to a file for troubleshooting purposes. These files are unnecessary and
can be deleted.
Mozilla Firefox
cache
All pictures, text and animations that you view in Mozilla Firefox while surfing the Internet are saved
in the cache. If you visit a website again, the text and images can be loaded from the cache more
quickly than from the Internet. However, it is advisable to empty your cache from time to time.
Recycle Bin All files in the Recycle Bin can be deleted.
Restore points
Restore points are used to save the status of system files on the computer. They are created by the
System Restore service at specified intervals and when changes are made to the computer.
Saved lost
clusters
Repair programs such as CHKDSK scan your hard disk for lost clusters and save them as files.
These backups are rarely used.
Temporary files
These are used by different programs to temporarily store data and should normally be deleted by
the program after its tasks are complete. These files can always be deleted.
Temporary help
files
These files are used to display help files more quickly.
Temporary
installation files
These are used by many Microsoft installation programs to temporarily store data and should
normally be deleted by the program after its tasks are complete. These files can always be deleted.
Thumbnails
Thumbnails of images are used by various programs to provide a quick preview. The thumbnail
views used by Windows, ACDSee and Google Picasa are taken into consideration.
Windows error
reporting files
When a program crashes, Windows saves data about the program. If this service has been
deactivated or if settings do not allow for information to be sent to the manufacturer, these files can
be deleted.
Windows Update
backups
When Windows is updated, backup files are created.